Device for monitoring the operation of a jar capping machine



Nov. 11, 1969 U 3,477,197

DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A JAR CAFPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD R. BUDZ BY WA AGENT NOV; 9 E. R. BUDZ I 3,477,17

DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A JAR CAFPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1967 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q -n5 VAC LINE 6la. A

RELAY J PHOTO-ELECTRIC J'L i EB l I I RELAY I L )(i COMM. 3.5; P D- |0| loo r,/ mas '43 :20 PROX- EDWARD R. suaz W 7 2 4% BY! United States Patent 3,477,197 DEVICE FQR MONITURING THE OPERATION (IF A JAR CAPEING MACHINE Edward R. Budz, Brookfield, llL, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,630 Int. Cl. B6711 3/26; B65!) 57/08; B07c 5/344 US. CI. 53-53 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for monitoring the operation of a capping machine which applies caps to containers, such as jars, including a proximity detector positioned above the conveyor belt carrying capped jars in single file out of the capping machine, for detecting the presence of the metal caps. A light source directs a beam of light across the path of the jars to a photocell; the interruption of the beam being used to indicate the detection of a jar. When the light beam is interrupted by a jar, and, a cap is not detected on the jar by the proximity detector, a jar ejecting air cylinder is caused to be operated to push the detected uncapped jar from the line. Occasionally occurring uncapped jars are thus automatically removed from the conveyor belt with the operation of the capping machine continuing. However, if a predetermined number of uncapped jars in succession, such as, for example, four, are detected, indicating that the capping machine is malfunctioning, it is caused to be shut down and a signal horn operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is in the general field of capping containers such as jars for such products as apple sauce, olives, fruit preserves and baby food. Such jars are almost universally made of glass and the caps of tin-plated steel or aluminum. The caps may be of the type that are turned on and off of the container mouth or pressed on and pried off; both types of caps being used extensively.

Modern day filling and capping production lines for such containers operate at a rate of many hundreds of containers per minute. The general practice is for the containers to leave the capping machine in spaced apart single file processional order on a relatively high speed endless type belt-conveyor. In such a high speed jar capping operation, if, for any reason, the capping machine malfunctions so as not to apply caps to the jars passing therethrough; before the machine operator becomes aware of the situation, it is possible for hundreds of uncapped jars to be delivered from the capping machine before the capping machine is shut down. Such uncapped jars must be identified and removed from the production line which is a time consuming nuisance. Even in a jar capping line that is functioning normally; occasionally a jar or two, or even perhaps three in succession, will be discharged from the capping machine without a closure cap or closure caps thereon. It is important that any such infrequently occurring uncapped jars be removed from the production line which is usually done by a human inspector stationed at a point down-stream of the capping machine.

The invention eliminates the necessity of the capping machine operator being externally vigilant at the output end of the capping machine and permits him to perform other duties. To accomplish this, the invention provides a monitoring device which inspects each container 3,477,197 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 leaving the capping machine to determine if it is capped. Any container found 'by inspection to be uncapped is automatically ejected from the production line. If a predetermined number, such as, for example, four successive containers are determined to be uncapped; indicating that the capping machine is malfunctioning; the capping machine will be automatically shut down and the operator warned by means of a horn, a light, or both, that the capping machine is in need of attention.

Description of the prior art Prior art devices have been developed which are capable of detecting and removing uncapped jars being conveyed out of the capping machine. Such devices, however, do not have the capability of fully monitoring the capping machine and shutting it down as soon as it becomes apparent that it is malfunctioning. When such devices are employed; if the capping machine is malfunctioning and is not capping any of the jars; all of the uncapped jars emanating from the machine will be ejected from the takeaway conveyor and the machine will continue to deliver uncapped jars. Even though it is possible with such devices to warn the operator by means of a flashing light or the sounding of a horn that the capping machine is malfunctioning, by the time the machine operator reacts, a great number of uncapped jars may have been produced.

Statistical studies have indicated that a properly functioning capping machine may occasionally turn out an uncapped container or perhaps even several uncapped containers in succession. However, when a capping machine turns out a predetermined number, such as, for example, four uncapped containers in succession, it is highly probable that the capping machine is malfunctioning and will continue to turn out uncapped containers. The device of the invention represents an improvement over the prior art in that it is efiective to shut down the capping machine upon the passage of a statistically determined number of successive uncapped jars therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for monitoring the operation of a machine which applies closure caps to containers, such as jars, and delivers the capped containers on a conveyor, comprising: a testing station adjacent said conveyor which includes means for detecting the presence of a cap on each container arriving at said testing station and means for detecting the presence of each container; control means responsive to signals from said cap detecting means and said container detecting means, said control means including counting means for registering the detection of uncapped containers, and means operated by said counting means for shutting down the capping machine upon the registering of a predetermined number of uncapped containers in succession by said counting means.

A more specific object is to additionally provide means at the testing station for ejecting detected uncapped containers from said conveyor with said control means additionally including means for operating said means for ejecting uncapped containers to cause the ejection of an uncapped container upon receiving signals from said cap detecting means and said container detectin means that said uncapped container is present at said testing station.

A still further object is to include in the control means, means for automatically resetting said counting means to a start position after the passage of a single container or unbroken succession of containers having no cap or caps thereon, but less than the predetermined number necessary to cause the counter operated means to be operated, said resetting means being actuated by a capped container arriving at the testing station before the set predetermined number of successive uncapped containers have been counted otf.

Other and more specific objects will become apparent upon reaching an understanding of the operation of the preferred embodiment to be described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the discharge end of a capping machine showing containers leaving the capping machine and passing through the testing station of the monitoring device of the invention and also showing the means for ejecting uncapped jars from the container conveyor; and

FIGURE 2 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuitry of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the capping machine is referred to generally by the numeral 10. Only a fragmentary portion of the capping head of the capping machine and a portion of the jar conveyor thereof are illustrated and are respectively indicated by the numerals 11 and 12. Jars 13 are conveyed in spaced apart single file order from the capping machine 10 on the jar conveyor 12 which may, as illustrated, be an endless belt type.

Jars 13 are priorly filled with product after which they are delivered in single file to the capping machine 10 wherein a cap 14, which is usually made of either tin plated steel or aluminum, is applied to each successive jar.

As the jars leave the capping machine in the direction of the arrow 15 they pass through a testing station generally indicated at 16 of the monitoring apparatus of the invention generally indicated at 17. Monitoring apparatus 17 includes means for ejecting uncapped jars from the conveyor 12 which may be in the form of the illustrated air cylinder 20.

Air cylinder 20 includes a reciprocating piston rod 21 that is provided with an enlarged rubber jar contacting head 22 at its outer end. Air cylinder 20 also includes an integral electrically operated air-flow control valve 23 for controlling the reciprocating movement of the piston rod 21. Air cylinder 20 and associated air-flow control valve 23 are completely conventional and may be purchased as a unit from many well known suppliers.

A mounting plate 24 is fixedly positioned in a conventional manner on a frame member (not shown) of the capping machine adjacent the conveyor 12. Air cylinder 20 is mounted in a conventional manner such as by means of threaded fasteners on the mounting plate 24.

Testing station 16 comprises a mounting plate 25 of generally inverted U-shape. Mounting plate 25 is adjustably fastened to the capping head 11 such as by means of threaded fasteners 26 passing through elongated adjusting slots 27.

A proximity detector 30 is adjustably mounted above the path of travel of the jars 13 on the mounting plate 25 by means of threaded fasteners 31 and adjusting slots 32 of which only one of each is illustrated; a like threaded fastener and adjusting slot being hidden from view behind the proximity detector 30.

The proximity detector 30 is of a type capable of detecting the presence of a metallic object positioned adjacent a detecting face 33 thereof, without contact being necessary between the detecting face and the object being detected.

Mounted on oppositely downwardly extending legs 34 and 35 of the mounting plate 25 is respectively a light source 36 and a photoelectric cell 37. The light source 36 is mounted on a bracket which in turn is fastened to the mounting plate leg 34, such as by means of threaded fasteners. In a similar manner, the photo-electric cell 37 is mounted on an angle bracket 41 attached to the leg 35. When the light source 36 is energized it directs a light beam 38 transversely across the belt 12 to the photo-electric cell 37.

A table or platform 42, which is disposed in the plane of the illustrated portion of the conveyor belt 12, is fixedly positioned closely adjacent the conveyor belt, such as, for example, on a frame member (not shown) of the machine 10. Platform 42 receives uncapped jars 13, ejected from the conveyor 12 by operation of the air cylinder 20, as will be later explained in detail.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the control circuitry of the invention, generally indicated at 43, is energized by means of ordinary 115 volt A.C. line conductor networks 44 and 45. The control circuitry is energized and de-energized as desired through a switch 46 in the conductor network 44, which also may have a fuse 47 to prevent damage to the circuitry through an overload.

A dual contact relay generally indicated at 50 has a set of normally open contacts 51 and a set of normally closed contacts 52. Contacts 51 and 52 are operated by the solenoid coil 53. Branches of the line conductor network 44 connect to the contacts 51 and 52. The opposite side of contacts 51 is connected to a conductor network 54 while the opposite side of the contacts 52 is connected to a conductor 55.

One side of solenoid coil 53 connects into the conductor network 54 while the other side is connected to a conductor network 56.

Connected in parallel between the conductor networks 54 and 56 is a red indicating light 57 and a horn 60.

Conductor network 56 is in electrical communication with the line conductor network 45 through a normally closed push-button reset switch 61a. The conductor connects into one side of a push-button stop switch 62; the other side of the switch 62 connecting into a conductor network 63.

One branch of the conductor network 63 is connected to a normally open set of contacts 64 of a relay generally indicated at 65. Another branch of the conductor network 63 is connected to one side of a normally open push-button start switch 66; the other side of the switch 66 being connected to a conductor network 67.

One branch of the conductor network 67 connects to one side of a solenoid coil 70 of the relay while another branch is connected to one side of the capping machine drive motor 71. The opposite sides of the solenoid coil and motor 71 are connected to the line conductor network 45.

Control circuitry 43 includes a multiple stepping switch assembly indicated generally at 72. Stepping switch assembly 72 includes two stepping switches, one being indicated generally at 73, and the other at 74. The stepping switch 73 which is used as a counter includes a three-armed rotor 75, while stepping switch 74 which is used to reset the counter 73 includes a similar rotor 76. Rotors 75 and 76 are mounted on a common shaft for stepwise rotation in unison in a counter-clockwise direction due to the energization and de-energization of a solenoid; the coil of which is indicated at 77 and movable armature at 78. One side of coil 77 is connected to a conductor network 80, while the other side is connected to a conductor network 81. Rotor 75 is connected to a conductor network 82 while rotor 76 is connected to a conductor network 83. An interrupter generally designated 84 includes a movable arm 85 operated by the armature 78 and a set of contacts 86. One of the contacts is attached to the arm 85 while the other connects into a conductor network 87.

Stepping switch 74 has a set of contacts totalling 11 which is swept in counter-clockwise sequence by the arms 76a, 76b and 760 of the rotor 76. Counting olf from the first contact to the eleventh in a counter-clockwise direction it will be observed that the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, nine and tenth contacts of the stepping switch 74 are in electrical communication with the conductor network 87. The first, sixth and eleventh or last contact are inactive.

Switch 73, being similar to switch 74, also has 11 contacts sequentially swept in a counter-clockwise direction by the arms 75a, 75b and 750 of the rotor 75. Counting in a counter-clockwise direction it will be seen that the 5th and th contacts are connected to the conductor network 54; the remaining contacts being inactive contacts.

A photo-electric amplifier indicated generally at 90 is energized through terminals 91 and 92 thereof, which respectively connect into line conductor networks 44 and 45 for energization thereby. Amplifier 90 includes a set of normally open contacts 93 one side of which connects into the conductor network 82 while the other side connects to a conductor 94.

The light source 36 receives electrical energy from amplifier 90 via conductors 95 and 96. Photo-electric cell 37 is in electrical communication with the amplifier 90 through the conductors 97 and 98.

A green indicating light 99 is connected across the line conductor networks 44 and 45 for energization thereby.

A relay generally indicated at 100 is actuated by a solenoid coil 101. One side of solenoid coil 101 is connected to the conductor 94 while the other side connects into the conductor network 45. Relay 100 includes a pair of normally open contacts 102 and 1033. Contacts 102 connect across conductor networks 44 and 80 while contacts 103 connect across conductor networks 45 and 104.

A signal horn 105 connects across conductor networks 82 and 104 as does a coil 106 of a solenoid which operates the air-flow control valve 23.

A rectifier unit generally indicated at 107 is energized by branch conductors of the conductor networks 44, 45 and provides D.C. electricity in a conductor network 110. Rectifier unit 10 7 includes a spark suppressing terminal 111 to which a branch of conductor network 81 is fastened.

A proximity detector control amplifier generally designated 112 has a pair of normally closed contacts 113 and 114 and a pair of normally open contacts 115 and 116. The control amplifier 112 is energized by the line conductor networks 44 and 45.

One side of contacts 113 connects into the conductor network 82 while the other side connects into line conductor network 44. Conductor network 110 connects to one side of contacts 114 while the other side of contacts 114 is connected to a conductor 117. Conductor 117 connects to one side of a normally closed push-button reset switch 61b, the other side of which connects into the conductor network 81.

One side of contacts 115 connects to the conductor network 80 while the other side connects into the line conductor network 44. A push-button normally open reset switch 610 is also connected across the contacts 115. One side of contacts 116 is connected into the conductor network 83, while the other side is connected to the conductor network 110. A normally open push-button reset switch 61d is connected across the contacts 116. Push-button reset switch 61a, 61b, 61c and 61d are part of a gang reset switch for operation in unison whenever it is desired to reset the control circuitry 43.

Proximity sensor 30 is connected into the control amplifier 112 by a set of conductors 120, 121, 122 and 123.

OPERATION In order to begin operation, the switch 46 (FIGURE 2) is first closed with the efiect that the green light 99 immediately goes on to indicate that the circuitry 43 is now energized.

Next, the push-button start switch 66 is closed. This completes a circuit from the line conductor network 44 through the normally closed contacts 52 of the relay 50, through the conductor '55, stop switch 62, conductor network 63, start switch 66, conductor network 67, and capping machine drive motor 71 to line conductor network 45. With the closing of the start switch 66, electrical energy also flows through the switch 66, conductor network 67, solenoid coil 70 and conductor network 45. This current flow energizes the solenoid coil 70 causing the normally open contacts 64 of the relay 65 to be closed. Upon release of the start switch 66 the motor 71 will continue to operate through the now closed contacts 64.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the energizing of the motor 71 is effective to start the conveyor 12 moving in the direction of the arrow 15 to convey jars being capped in the capping machine 10, therefrom, as illustrated.

As a jar having a cap thereon is moved by the jar conveyor 12 into the testing station 16, the presence of the cap 14 on the jar will be detected by the proximity detector 30 slightly in advance of the light beam 38 from the light source 36 being broken by the passage of the capped jar therethrough. Such a capped jar will pass along undisturbed.

However, when an uncapped jar moves into the testing station 16, the absence of the cap will first be detected by the proximity detector 30, and immediately subsequent, the beam 38 will be broken, effecting the operation of the air cylinder 20 to knock the uncapped jar from the conveyor 12 onto the platform 42. This is accomplished by the piston rod 21 being extended from the air cylinder 20 causing the rubber jar contacting head 22 to strike the side of the jar with sufiicient force to propel the jar onto the platform 42.

Prior to the starting operation; if there is a change in the height of the jars being run; it will be necessary to in unison reposition the height of the proximity detector 30, light source 36 and photo-electric cell 37, by loosening the threaded fasteners 26. Regardless of jar size, however, the arrangement of the components at the testing station should be such that the jar cap will be detecteo prior to the breaking of the beam 33.

As long as only occasional uncapped jars are detected, up to a maximum of three in succession, the capping machine 10 will continue to operate as just explained with the uncapped jars being removed from the conveyor 12. However, should the passage of four uncapped jars in succession through the testing station be detected, indicating that the capping machine 10 is malfunctioning, it will be automatically shut down by the stopping of motor 71. The machine operator will be advised that the machine has been shut down by the lighting of the red indicating light 57 and the operation of the horn 60 which will continue until the machine operator pushes the ganged reset push-button switch which includes the individual switches 61a, 61b, 61c and 61d.

In order to fully understand the operation of the invention, assume first that a capped jar is moving from the capping machine into the testing station 16. The proximity detector 36 will be positioned sufiiciently close vertically to the cap so that the cap will be detected as it passes thereunder. The detection of the cap has the immediate effect of repositioning all of the contacts 113 through 116 of the proximity detector control amplifier 112. Normally open contacts 115 and 116 will now be closed while normally closed contacts 113 and 114 will be open.

Very shortly after the detection of the cap, the light beam 38 will be broken by either the side of the jar or by the skirt of the cap 14 depending upon the elevation at which the light beam is set with respect to the passing jars. The interruption of the light beam causes the normally open contacts 93 of the photo-electric amplifier to. momentarily close and open again while the cap 14 is still under the proximity detector 30. At the time the contacts 93 are closed the contacts 113 are open; thus, there will not be a completed circuit from conductor network 44 through the contacts 113, conductor network 82, closed contacts 93, conductor 94 and solenoid coil 101 to conductor network 45. Due to the coil 101 not being energized the contacts 102 and 103 remain open so that nothing further occurs in the circuitry 43 and the capped jar passes through the testing station and stays on the conveyor 12.

Now, assuming that an uncapped jar is arriving at the testing station 16, the contacts 113 through 116 of the proximity detector control amplifier 112 will remain in their normal positions as illustrated in FIGURE 2 due to the absence of a metal cap beneath the proximity detector 30. The light beam 38 will be interrupted as before by a portion of the jar side-wall or mouth defining rim. The breaking of the beam immediately causes the contacts 93 to close momentarily.

The momentary closing of the contacts 93 results in the momentary completion of a circuit from the line conductor network 44 through the closed contacts 113, conductor network 82, momentarily closed contacts 93, conductor 94 and coil 101 of relay 100 to line conductor network 45. The coil 101 is thus momentarily energized with the result that the contacts 102 and 103 of relay 100 are caused to momentarily close. The momentary closing of contacts 103 creates a circuit from line conductor network 45, closed contacts 103, conductor 104, horn 105, solenoid coil 106, conductor network 82 and closed contacts 113 to line conductor network 44. This results in the momentary sounding of the horn 105. It also results in the operation of the air cylinder due to the energizing of the coil 106 of the air-fiow control valve 23 which controls the operation of the air cylinder 20. As a result of the operation of the air cylinder 20, the detected uncapped jar is knocked off the conveyor belt 12 by the enlarged rubber jar contacting head 22.

The momentary closing of relay contacts 102 creates a circuit from line conductor network 44, momentarily closed contacts 102, conductor network 80, solenoid coil 77, conductor network 81, closed reset switch 61b, conductor 117, closed contacts 114 and conductor 110 connecting into the rectifier unit 107. Since conductor 110 is a direct current conductor, direct current will momentarily be caused to flow through the solenoid coil 77 while the relay contacts 102 are closed and the how of current to the coil 77 will cease immediately upon the contacts 102 opening. This momentary energizing of the relay coil 77 results in the rotors 75 and 76 of the multiple stepping switch assembly 72 being indexed in unison in a counterclockwise direction so that the arms thereof 75a and 76a in contact with the first contact on the right hand side of the stepping switches 73 and 74 will move up one step to register the detection of the uncapped jar so that they will now be in contact with the second switch contact. The rotors 75 and 76 will remain in contact with the second contact of stepping switches 73 and 74 until the passage of the next jar into the testing station 16.

Assuming that a second uncapped jar now arrives directly after the first uncapped jar at the detecting station 16, the contacts 113 through 116 of the proximity detector control amplifier 112 will remain as before in their normal positions as shown in FIGURE 2 and the normally open contacts 93 of photo-electric amplifier 90 will again be caused to momentarily close and be opened again when the jar breaks the light beam 38 as just priorly explained. The circuitry energized will be the same as for the first uncapped jar, resulting in the sounding of the horn 105 and the removal of the second detected jar from the conveyor 12. Coil 77 of the multiple stepping switch assembly 72 will be momentarily energized as previously explained with the result that the three-armed rotors 75 and 76 will move counter-clockwise so that the arms thereof 75a and 76a in contact with the second contact of respective stepping switches 73 and 74 will now be moved into engagement with the third contacts to register the detection of the second successive uncapped ar.

The passage of a third successive uncapped jar will result in the arms 75:: and 76a being moved into contact with the fourth contact of the respective stepping switches in the same manner.

The arrival of a fourth successive uncapped jar at the testing station, however; which is an indication that there is something wrong with the operation of the capping machine 10, will result in the shutting down of the capping machine due to the connection of the conductor network 54 to the fifth contact of the stepping switch 73.

The arrival of the fourth uncapped jar at the testing station 16 results in the movement of the arms 75a and 76a of the rotors 75 and 76 into contact with the fifth contact of the stepping switches 73 and 74, respectively. When the arm 7501 comes into contact with the fifth contact, a circuit is created from line conductor network through closed reset switch 61a, conductor network 56, solenoid coil 53 of relay 50, conductor network 54, arm 75a, conductor network 82 and contacts 113 to line conductor network 44.

The completion of this circuit results in the energizing of the solenoid coil 53 causing the contacts 51 and 52 of the relay to respectively close and open. The closing of the contacts 51 causes the solenoid coil 53 to remain energized through a circuit formed therethrough from the line conductor network 45 to the line conductor network 44 even though a following jar having a cap thereon passes under the proximity detector 30 which would cause the contacts 113 to open to break the previously explained circuit through the solenoid coil 53. By means of the closing of contacts 51, the relay 50 will remain energized regardless of the passage of subsequently properly capped jars out of the capping machine 10.

The closing of contacts 51 also creates a circuit from line conductor network 45 through reset switch 61a, the red light bulb 57 and horn 60 through conductor network 54 and closed contacts 51 to line conductor network 44. This circuit turns on the red indicating light 57 and horn 60. They will remain on until the push-button reset switch 61a is operated to break the completed circuit.

The opening of the contacts 52 effects the breaking of the circuit from line conductor network 44 through the push-button stop switch 62, closed contacts 64, solenoid coil 70 and also motor 71 to the line conductor network 45. This results in the motor 71 stopping and thus shutting down the capping machine. The de-energization of the solenoid coil 70 of relay 65 also results in the contacts 64 returning to their normal open position so that the closing of the now open contacts 52 by the operation of the reset switch 6111 will not be effective to start up the motor 71 since the relay contacts 64 and the start switch 66 through which electrical paths through the motor 71 may be formed are both open.

Upon being advised of the shutting down of the capping machine by the continuous sounding of the horn 60 and the turning on of the red indicating light 57, the machine operator would first operate the ganged reset switch with the result that switches 61a and 61b would be caused to momentarily open, while switches 61c and 61d would be caused to be momentarily closed.

The opening of switch 61a is effective to turn off the light 57 and horn 60 and also de-energize the relay 50 so that the contacts 51 and 52 return to their respective normally open and normally closed positions. The turning off of the horn 60 permits the machine operator to rectify the difficulty with the capping machine 10 in silence, after which he can restart the machine 10 by momentarily pushing the start switch 66 to close it, creating a completed circuit again through the motor 71 and solenoid coil 70 of the relay 65. This energizes the solenoid coil 70 resulting in the closing of the contacts 64 of the relay 65 through which the circuit to the motor 71 is maintained upon the releases of the push-button start switch 66 by the operator.

As stated before, the capping machine was caused to be shut down when the rotor arm 7511 reached the fifth contact of the stepping switch 73. Before operation can again commence it will be necessary for the rotor arm 75a to move counter-clockwise to the next or sixth contact of the stepping switch 73. This is accomplished by the making and breaking of circuits due to the substantially simultaneous closing of reset switches 61c and 61d and opening of reset switch 61b. Direct current is now applied from the conductor 110 through momentarily closed switch 61d into the conductor network 83, rotor arm 76a, the number contact of reset stepping switch 74 into conductor network 87, through closed contacts 86 of interrupter 84, through the solenoid coil 77, into conductor network 80 and then through the momentarily closed reset switch 610 into the line conductor network 44. The movable arm 85 of the interrupter is associated with the movable armature 78 of the solenoid coil 77 in a manner that when the solenoid coil is energized the contacts 86 will be caused to open and when the solenoid coil is de-energized contacts 86 will be caused to close. Shortly after the solenoid coil is energized as just explained, the contacts will be caused to open with the result that the solenoid coil 77 is de-energized. As the solenoid coil 77 is energized, the moving of the armature 78 of the solenoid effects the counter-clockwise rotation of the rotors 75 and 76 so as to position the contact arms 75a and 76a on the sixth contact of the stepping switches. As will be observed, the sixth contact of stepping switch 74 has no electrical connection, therefore, the solenoid 77 will not be again re-energized through the arm 76a and conductor network 87 through the now closed contacts 86, resulting in the arms 75a and 76a remaining in contact with the sixth contact of respective stepping switches 73 and 74. The first and sixth contacts of the stepping switches 73 and 74 are starting positions. That is to say, at the start of operations, one of the arms of the rotors 75 and 76 will be in contact with either the first or sixth contact of the respective stepping switches 73 and 74.

With the circuitry 43 now reset as just explained and upon the starting of the motor 71 by pressing the start button switch 66, capped jars will again begin moving out of the capping machine 10 and into the testing station 16. As long as properly capped jars are being turned out of the machine 10, the rotor arms 75a and 76a will remain in contact with the sixth contact of switches 73 and 74. However, if the capping machine malfunctions such that four uncapped jars in succession are detected at the testing station 16 the rotors 75 and 76 will be caused to step in a counter-clockwise direction as previously explained until the arms 75a and 76a arrive at the tenth contacts of the respective switches 73 and 74. As will be observed, the sixth through ninth contacts of stepping switch 73 are electrically inactive, but the tenth contact is connected into the conductor network 54. Therefore, when the arm 7512 comes into contact with the tenth contact, the cap ping machine is caused to be shut down in the manner previously explained as a result of the arm 75a coming into contact with the fifth contact of the stepping switch 73. Now when the circuitry is reset to again commence operations, the arms 75a and 76a will move in unison to the last or eleventh contact of their associated stepping switches and the arms 75c and 76c will move into contact with the first contact of the respective switches putting the arms 75c and 76c in a starting position.

Whenever a single uncapped jar or a maximum of three uncapped jars in succession pass through the testing station, the control circuitry 43 through reset stepping switch 74 and associated interrupter 84 automatically resets the stepping switches 73 and 74 to the next starting position upon the passage of a following capped jar. That is to say, if the arms 75a and 76a are on the first contact of the switches 73 and 74 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 they will be caused to move up to the second contact of the respective switches upon the detection of a first uncapped jar. Now, if a capped jar follows the uncapped jar into the testing station 16, the stepping switches 73 and 74 will automatically be caused to rapidly index in a counterclockwise direction until the arms 75a and 76a are at the second starting position in contact with the sixth contact of the respective switches 73 and 74. This rapid indexing is accomplished with such rapidity that it is completed before the arrival of the next jar at the testing station.

In order to understand this rapid indexing of the stepping switches 73 and 74 to the second starting position it will be assumed that the arms 75a and 76a are resting on the second switch contacts as a result of the detection of an uncapped jar. Now it Will be assumed that the next succeeding jar is a properly capped jar. When this jar arrives under the proximity detector 30 it will result in all of the normally open and normally closed contacts of the proximity detector control amplifier 112 being reversed so as to be just the reverse of that shown in FIGURE 2. When the jar breaks the light beam 38, the contacts 93 of photo-electric amplifier will momentarily be caused to close. The closing of the contacts 93, however, will not result in energizing the solenoid coil 101 due to the contacts 113 being open through which solenoid coil 101 is energized. The closing of the contacts 93 will thus not result in the closing of the contacts 102 and 103. Because the contacts 102 and 103 remain open the solenoid coil 77, horn 105 and solenoid coil 106 cannot be respectively energized therethrough. The stepping switches 73 and 74 will thus not be indexed as a result of the closing of the contacts 93.

A circuit is completed, however, delivering direct current from the rectifier unit 107 through the conductor 110, closed contacts 116, conductor network 83, rotor arm 76a, through the second contact of the reset stepping switch 74, through the conductor network 87, contacts 86, movable arm 85, solenoid coil 77, conductor network 80 and closed contacts to the line conductor network 44. As the solenoid coil 77 becomes energized it is effective to cause the repositioning of the armature 78 which effects the counter-clockwise rotation of the rotors 75 and 76 to the third contact of the respective switches 73 and 75. The repositioning of the armature also operates the interrupter 84 causing the contacts 86 to open. The opening of the contacts 86 results in the breaking of the flow of current through the solenoid coil 77 with the result that the solenoid armature is caused to move to its de-energized position such as by means of a spring associated therewith (not shown) which in turn causes the interrupter contacts 86 to again be closed. Since the rotor arm 76a is now in contact with the third contact of the switch 74 which is electrically communicated with the conductor network 87, the coil 77 will again be energized as before through the interrupter 84 resulting in the arm 76a being shifted to the fourth contact. Since the fourth contact is also in communication with the conductor network 87, immediately upon the contacts 86 closing again after the coil 77 is de-energized, the coil will again be energized causing the arm 76a to be shifted into contact with the fifth contact of switch 74 and immediately thereafter shifted into contact with the sixth or second starting position contact. Since the sixth contact of switch 74 is electrically inactive and not connected into the conductor network 87, there will be no circuit formed through the contacts 86 and solenoid coil 77 as before and the arms 75a and 76a of respective switches 73 and 74 will remain at the second starting position awaiting the arrival of the next succeeding jar at the testing station.

As thus explained, it will be apparent that during operation of the monitoring apparatus 17, whenever the active arms of the rotors 75 and 76 are in contact with any of the three following switch contacts positioned between the first or second starting positions namely, between the first contact and sixth contact or between the sixth contact and the last contact an immediately following capped jar will cause the rotors to be rapidly indexed to the next starting position.

From the foregoing explanation of the operation of the monitoring device 17 it will be apparent that the main as well as secondary objects of the invention have been fulfilled in that all uncapped jars are removed from the production line and capping operations are stopped upon the detection of a predetermined number of uncapped jars in succession, such as, for example, four, which indicates that the capping machine is not functioning properly and needs attention.

Although the monitoring apparatus 17 may be employed with various types of capping machines it has been successfully used to control a straight-line type of capping machine similar to the machine described in US. Patent 2,876,605, issued on Mar. 10, 1956 to Robert K. McElroy and Ray M. Smith entitled Machine for Applying Rotatable Closure Caps to Containers.

An advantage of the apparatus 17 is that it may be constructed mainly from commercially available components. For example, the 'multiple stepping switch assembly 72 may be purchased from C. P. Clare and Co., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. under catalog designation; Type 210 Spring-Driven Stepping Switch.

Rectifier unit 107 may be purchased from the same source under catalog designation RP8047. This rectifier unit is provided with a built-in spark suppressor to which the conductor network 81 connects at the spark suppression terminal 111 to prevent arcing within the stepping switch assembly 72.

The photo-electric amplifier 90 with the associated light source 36 and photo-electric cell 37 may be obtained from Photoswitch Division, Electronics Corporation of America, Cambridge, Mass, USA. under catalog designation, Photoswitch Impulse Control Type 23DF3.

The proximity detector control amplifier 112 and associated proximity detector 30, respectively designated by catalog No. 20FC1 and catalog No. 4FB1 are obtainable from the manufacturer; Microswitch, Freeport, Ill., U.S.A., a division of Honeywell.

The remainder of the relays, horns, lights, etc., are also standard items obtainable from many electrical supply houses.

Although the illustrated embodiment is a preferred form of the invention, various modifications thereof will occur to one becoming familiar with the principles of operation involved. The scope of the invention is therefore not to be construed as being limited to the specific construction details of the illustrated embodiment, but rather, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a machine which applies closure caps to containers, such as jars, and delivers the capped containers on a conveyor comprising: a testing station adjacent said conveyor which includes means for detecting the presence of a cap on each container arriving at said testing station and means for detecting the presence of each container; control means responsive to signals from said cap detecting means and said container detecting means, said control means including counting means for registering the detection of uncapped containers; and means operated by said counting means for shutting down the capping machine upon the registering of a predetermined number of uncapped containers in succession by said counting means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said testing station additionally includes means for ejecting detected uncapped containers from said conveyor and said control means additionally includes means for operating said means for ejecting uncapped containers to cause the ejection of an uncapped container upon receiving signals from said cap detecting means and said container detecting means that said uncapped container is present at said testing station.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that means are provided to reset said counting means to a starting position, operated by signals from said cap detecting means and said container detecting means upon the arrival of a capped container at said detecting station following the detection registration and removal of a single uncapped container or an unbroken series of uncapped containers, said series being at least one less in number than said predetermined number of containers.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said means for detecting the presence of a cap comprises a proximity detector.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said means for detecting the presence of each container comprises a light source for directing a light beam across said conveyor and a photo-electric cell for receiving said light beam.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said counting means comprises a stepping switch.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said reset means comprises a stepping switch and an interrupter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,883,810 4/1959 Gieskieng 53-78 X 3,411,621 11/1968 Gerben 209 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5378; 209-80 

